Manure-spreader.



T. BROWN.

MANUFE SPREADEH,

APPLlcMmN min FEB. z. 1942. 1,139,483.

Suva mffoz 3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented May 18, 191r T. BROWN.

MANURE SPREADER.

APPLncAloM FILED FEB. i. I9:

2' Patented M3318, 1915.

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@witnesses HMM m BRWNi MANURE SPHEAUER.

APPLlcAlou mw Fia. 1. 19|2.

QN www Patented May/18, 1915.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TBSEOPBILUS BROWN, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MARSEILLES COMPANY, OF EAST MOLINE, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MANURE-SPREADEB.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1915.

Application led February l, 1912. Serial No. 674,675.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I= THEoPHrLUs BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Manure- Spreaders, of which the following is a specilication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relatos to improvements in manure spreader-s of the class in which each is congtfucted with an elongated load car- ;r'vmg ybody part, front wheels or truck, feed- ?mg mechanism in the lower part of the body, and, at the rear end of the latter, a beater or distributer structure.

The improvements are in the means for mount-ing and adjusting the beater or distributer and mounting and adjusting the load support and fee 0' mechanism, and in other matters that will fully understood from the description below.

Figure 1 is a side view of a mechanism embodying my im rovements. Fig. 2 is a partial elevation o the side of the machine opposite to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a partiai vertical longitudinal section on a plane at the central part, transversely, of the beater. Fig. 4 is an end view of one of the sup 'brackets at the rear end of the f 'ng mechanism. Fig. 5 is a side ,view of the same. Fig. 6 is a view partly m Teil1 elevation and partly in section looklng Rt the rea-r of the machine. Fig. 7 is a. view of the planetary gear detached. Fig. 8 shows backing ratchet and pawl mechanism. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the frame of the feeding apron. Fig. 10 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of parts at the rear end of the machine. Fig. 11 is a view partly in plan view and partly,r in section. showing a portion of the feeding apron, the rear e and connectingdevices; Fig. 12 is a view of the bracket which supports the beater upon the axle and also carries the rear end of the feeding apron. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the bracket shown in Fig. 12.

The body part of the machine, which is primarily loaded with the material to be distributed. is formed with a main frame and vertical side walls. 1 indicates longitudinal sills at the bottom of this body part which.l at their rear ends, are supported hpon the rear axle 2, and at their front ends upon the front truck having the wheels 3, the upper cross connecting bar 4 and the vertica post or bracket at 5. The sideboards are secured to the sills and cross connecting parts of the frame. These, togather with the front wall 7 and the supporting apron at the bottom inclose the space within which the load is retained. The connecting part of the frame, joining the front truck to the body frame, is formed of upwardly curved bars 8.

On the ends of the axle 2 are pivoted the Ground wheels, there beine` backing ratchet devices at 10 interpod between the axle and the wheels.

The apron which supports and feeds the material backward is indicated by 15. It 1s mounted upon a front shaft 18 and the rear shaft 28. It is composed of slats linked together, or to carrgng chains 14, and passes around sprocke or s iders at 16 and 17, the former on the rear s aft 28 and the latter on the front shaft 18. These shafts are connected together by means of longitudinally arranged bars 50. 51, 52 are brackets with sleeves that loosely surround the shafts respectively, and to these brackets the rods 50 are secured. From one rod 50 to the other there extend connecting rods 53. Upon these are provided rollers 5l, of suiiicient number to properlyr support the apron. The front brackets 52 are shown as having slots 52a to permit more or less lon-L gitudinal movement of the front end of the feeder element of the machine. This is to allow the rear end of the feeder element to move up and down, as will be described.

The rear spider shaft 2S is mounted in bearings at 27 carried by two bearing arms 95 25, which are adjustably mounted on the rear axle 2. These arms 25 are part of two bell lever elements indicated by 23, each having an upwardly extending arm 24, in addition to the shorter arm 25, referred to. Each is cast with a sleeve 26, by which it is mounted upon the axle 2.

The beater 20 is carried by a shaft 21, which is mounted in bearings, 22, at the upper ends of the arms 24.

29 is a sprocket wheel keyed to the axle 2 near the ground wheel and 30 is a chain driven thereby and in turn driving a sprocket wheel 31 loose on the end of the beater shaft 21. This sprocket pinion 31 transmits the rotary motion to the beater through a planet-ary geur device 32, having the external ring gear or shell gear 33 integral with the sprocket 31 engaging with a series of internal pinions carried by the disk 35, and meshing with the central pinion S-l on the driving sleeve keyed to the beater shaft. On the periphery of the disk S5 there is a series of stop lugs or teeth 36. 37* is a detentadapted to be brought into and drawn from the path of these stop lugs. When it is out of engagement the disk 35 is free to rotate and at such times the beater shaft will be stationary; but when the detent is in engagement with one of the stop lugs 36 the disk 35 is prevented from rotating and the beater shaft will receive power through the sprocket 31, internal gear 33, the pinions carried by the disk 35 and pinion 34 on the shaft.

0n the other end of the beater shaft there is a sprocket wheel 38, and, in alinement therewith, there is a sprocket wheel 39 oonoentric with but loose on the axle 2. 40 is a chain transmitting power from the sprocket 38 to the Wheel 39. 41 is a bevel wheel carried by the sprocket 39, and is a bevel pinion engaging therewith. The pinion is on the shaft 4.4 mounted in the bearings 45, 47, this shaft also carrying the worm 43, which meshes with the worm wheel 48 on the rear apron shaft 28. The Sill i of the main frame has secured to it a bracket 11, with a sleeve 12, fitted to the axle and the tongue or arm 13 for fastening to the sill. In the plate part of the bracket there is a slot 49 concentric with the axle and the apron shaft 28 extends through this slot and can move up and dou-'n therein.

is a link bar or thrustfand-pull rod. At its rear end it is pivotally connected to the bell lever 23 and at its front end is connected to a crank 60, which is secured to shaft- 58 mounted on the front part of the frame near the driver's seat. 59 is a, ratchet secured to the shaft 58. 61 is a hand lever having a pawl 62 engaging with the teeth of the ratchet. The operator can rock the shaft 5S with a step by step movement when he wishes to throw the crunk to its rear position. 63 is a locking dogr also engaging with the teeth of the ratchet It is held in its active. position by a foot lever and spring at 64. The manner of operating a spreader having the parts constructed as described wilt be readily understood. After a. load has been discharged and prior to reloadingr the operator releases the ratchet and permits the und the link 55 to more for- Ward. the, Weight of the feeding mechanism sewing to' 'rock the lever 24 forward, bring-i ing with it'Y the beater, the rear end of the feeding apron moving down to its lowermost limit, as shown in Fig. 3. The beater serves as an end gate to retain the load moving for- Werd or rearward in the arcuate slots 521 cui in the sides of the body. The carrying capacity of the vehicle is largely increased by the dropping of the apron. When the machine reaches the Held the load is elevated in the body and should any part thereof extend above the sides there is no material spilling as the distributing mechanism is at work scattering the load.

lVhen, in the Eeld, it is desired to Setthe distributer to work, the opera-tor by the lever 61 and the intermediate parts actuated thereby, swings the carrier arm 23 backward, this throwing the beater also backward and elevating the rear end of the feeding apron. The detent 37 is carried by the swinging arm 37 which engages with the..

lugs or projections on the swinging arm 24, or passes through an aperture therein, and the parts are so related that just at the time the beaterreaches its rear position the detent.l

3T is drawn into the path of the stop llugs 3G., and thereupon the power is transmitted from the pinion 31 to the beater shaft and the work of distributing the material oommences. The beater having been drawn away from the rear end of the load mass, is free to be put into rapid rotation and get under full inertia before any impedance results from contact with the material.

As soon as the beater sha-ft 21 begins to rotate it, in turn, through the train of parts on the let hand side of the machine, commeneing,r with the sprocket wheel 20 and terminating with the worm wheel 48, imparts powerto the feeding apron. The rear end of this apron has been brought up to a proper position in relation to the fingers on the beater and shortly after the beater is set into rotation the load mass has been carried by the apron far enough back for the shredding and distributing to commence. By lifting up the apron the load mass is elevoted, as before stated, in the body and this results in freeing it from pressure from the side boards, so that the beater is greatly asin shredding it and drawing it back- Wal' The beater is mounted in the way I have found the most advantageous, namely, by supporting it directly upon the ground Wheels through the medium of the axle. The lighter parts of the frame and sides of the body are relieved of all the severe strains and stresses which are exerted by the beater when at work. This advantageous feature I have embodied in distributers of other forms, but believe myself also to be the first to have mounted this elementof the mechanisrn in such a Way that it can be moved or adjusted While still remainingA supported upon the Wheels or axle.

Many of the advantages incident to this mechanism can be attained if the beater iS mounted and carried independently of the ifeeding mechanism and vice versa, or so that vthe beater can be moved while the feeder is stationary. But, I prefer to have them related in the way shown and described, that is, so that when the beater moves forward the apron will move downward, and when the beater moves away from the rear end of the load the latter shall be elevated somewhat. The feeding apron can be so mounted, if desired, that it shall rise and fall in horizontal parallelism, instead of having its motion restricted to the rear end.

What I claim is:

1. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the body structure, the rapidly rotating beater or distributer, the means for supporting the load in the body, means for feeding the load on horizontal lines toward the beater, and means for elevating the load from one plane to another.

2. In a fertilizer distributer, the combinaon of the body structure, a rapidly rotat- .ing beater, the vertically movable bottom support for the load, and means for feeding the load on horizontal lines toward the beater.

3. In a fertilizer distributor, the combination of the body, the beater, the longitudinally movable bottom support for carryin' the load and feeding it to the beater, an

. means for adjusting the bottom support vertically from one position to another.

4. In a fertilizer distributer, the combina.- tion of the body, the beater, and the longitudinally movable bottom support for the load adapted to have its rear end adjusted to either of several positions vertically.

.3. In a fertilizer distributor, the combination of the body, the beater, the longitudinally movable bottom support for the load, and means for adjusting the rear end of the bottom support from one position to another vertically.

6. In a fertilizer distributor, the combination of the body, the vertically adjustable load supporting and feeding means, and the lonm'tudinally adjustable beater.

T. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the body, the load supporting and feeding means, the beater, and devices for simultaneously adjust-ing the load supporting means vertically and adjusting the beater longitudinally.

S. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the body, the movable bottom for advancing the load, the axle, the ground wheels thereon, the beater mounted on an axis remote from the axle and supported directly thereon, and means for removing the heater to or away from the load about the. axle as a center. M

9. In a fertilizer distributer, the eombination of the body, the axle, the ground wheels mounted thereon, the beater mounted on an 'ams remote from the axle, and braekets hingeconnected to the axle and supporting the beater.

10. In a fertilizer distributor, the combination of the body, the axle, the wheels mounted thereon, the beater mounted on an axis remote from the axle, brackets supported by the ground vvheels and carrying the beater, and means for swinging said brackets about the axis of the wheels as a center.

11. In a fertilizer distributor, the combination of the body, the movable bottom for advancing the load toward the beater, the ground wheels, the beater carried by the ground wheels and located at a point remote from their axis, and means for movin the beater about the axis of the Ground w eels as a center to and away from ne load.

12. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the body, the movable bottom for advancing the load to the beater, means for moving the beater to and away from the load, and means for lowering or raising the said movable bottom.

13. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the body, the beater, the movable bottom for advancing the load to the beater, and means for simultaneously moving the beater away from the load and for elevating the movable bottom from one plane to another.

14. In a fertilizer distributor, the combination of the load-carrying body with ver tical side walls, the movable bottom for carrying the load backward, the beater, and the brackets supplemental to the aforesaid parts and supported directly by the ground wheels and supporting the beater and the bottom independently of the walls of the body.

15. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the body, the beater, the movable bottom for advancing the load to thel beater, the through axle, the ground Wheelsfmounb. ed thereon, and the brackets hinge-connected to the axle for supporting both the beater and one end of the movable bottom.

16. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the body, the means for support4 ing the load material and feeding it along the body, the axle, the ground wheels, and the longitudinally swinging rotary beater supported upon the axle independently of the body and arranged to have its circles of rotation outside of the axle.

17. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the body, the means for supporting the load material and feeding it along the body, the. axle, the Wheels, and the beater mounted on the axle, and rotating entirely outside of the axle and adjustable longitnlinally of the body.

18. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the body, the means for supporting the load material and feeding it along the body, and the beater supported on the axle independently of the body and having its circles of rotation entirely outside thereof and movable toward and from the load material.

19. In a fertilizer distrbuter, the combination of the body, the means for sup orting the load material and feeding it a ong the body, the axle, the wheels, the beater having its circles of rotation entirely outside of the axle independently of the body, and the swinging carrier for the beater support ed on the axle.

20. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the body, the means for supporting the load material and feedj 0' it along the body, the axle, the wheels, t e beater.

supported on the axle independently of the body and arranged to have its circles of r tation entirely outside of the axle, an

means for moving the beater from one po sition to another vertically.

21. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the body, the rear wheels, the axle, the means for supporting and feeding the material, and the beater arranged to have its circles of rotation entirely outside of the axle and adapted to swin longitudinally acro the vertical plane o the Wheel axis.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two wit-nees.

THEOPHILUS BROWN.

Witnesses:

FLOYD R. Tono, W. B. MCFALIN.

Copies o! this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, 3.6.#

Corrections in Letters Patent No. 1,139,483,

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,139,483, granted Muy 18, 1915. upon the application of Theophilus Brown, of Moline',` illinois, for an improvement in Manure-Spreaders," errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 59, for the word "Temoving" rend moving; page 4, line I0, strike out the words Uindependently of the body," same page, line l2, after the word axle insert; the words independently of the burly: and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Ofce.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of July, A. D., 1915.

R. F. WHITEHEAD,

[SEAL] Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

